Asthma affects 5.2 million people in the UK. Research shows you're more likely to develop if...

there's a family history of asthma eczema or allergies - this combined with environmental factors influences whether a person develops asthma.

if a child's parents smoke during pregnancy or around their children

they are exposed to air pollution, infections or allergens

they suffer a viral infection

a child grows up in a very hygenic environment

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Atmospheric Pollution

The way a person responds to pollutants in the air depends on their age, health, the type of pollutant, the concentration and length of exposure to the pollutant and the activity undertaken while exposed.

If a person's health is good they are unlikely to have any serious short-term effects, but those with lung diseases or heart conditions are at higher risk.

Scientists still don't fully understand long term effects.

Reducing PM10 by half could increase life expectancy by up to 11 months which isn't a huge difference compared to the effect of smoking (non-smokers live 7 years longer)

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Types of Pollutants and their Effects

Pollutants

Nitrogen dioxide vehicle emissons, burning fossil fuels and biomass

Sulfer dioxide burning of fossil fuels in power stations/oil refineries